Spring Break
Home is where the Big East schedule starts
Chris Brodeur
Issue date: 3/20/09 Section: Sports
Fresh off a pair of one-run victories over in-state opponents to open the week, the baseball team is finally home this weekend at J.O. Christian Field to kick off the Big East schedule with a three-game set against West Virginia beginning today at 3 p.m.
After playing their first 12 games in Florida, the Huskies (7-7) outlasted Fairfield on Sunday, 5-4, and used a five-run fifth inning to edge Sacred Heart, 7-6, on Monday.
The wins came on the heels of an 11-10 defeat at the hands of Bucknell on March 14 in Lakeland, Fla. that coach Jim Penders called "a heartbreaker." UConn took a 10-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth and were one out away from a win, until the Bisons capitalized on a fielding error and struck for four runs off senior closer David Erickson.
A quarter of the season is over, and while Penders is encouraged by his team's recent successes, he still sees plenty of room for improvement.
"There's been a lot of back and forth so far," Penders said. "We're at the quarterpole and we still have some questions. We haven't found the fourth gear yet. Hopefully we can find it fast."
West Virginia (12-5) is an opponent Penders pegged as "an offensive juggernaut," and rightfully so. In 17 games, the Mountaineers have plated 184 runs; good for an average of almost 11 runs per game. Sophomore right-hander Jerryd Summers has been the ace of their pitching staff, posting a record of 3-0 in four starts with 31 strikeouts in 24.2 innings of work to go along with an ERA of 2.55.
"They're always ready to play," Penders said. "They know how to swing the bats well and we'll have our hands full with their hitters."
The Huskies' answers offensively come in the form of junior outfielder Matt Burnett and slugging sophomore shortstop Mike Olt.
Burnett was on a tear last season before a season-ending injury forced him to redshirt. He's batting .400 in 2009 and has extended a hitting streak that he began last year to 18 games.
After playing their first 12 games in Florida, the Huskies (7-7) outlasted Fairfield on Sunday, 5-4, and used a five-run fifth inning to edge Sacred Heart, 7-6, on Monday.
The wins came on the heels of an 11-10 defeat at the hands of Bucknell on March 14 in Lakeland, Fla. that coach Jim Penders called "a heartbreaker." UConn took a 10-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth and were one out away from a win, until the Bisons capitalized on a fielding error and struck for four runs off senior closer David Erickson.
A quarter of the season is over, and while Penders is encouraged by his team's recent successes, he still sees plenty of room for improvement.
"There's been a lot of back and forth so far," Penders said. "We're at the quarterpole and we still have some questions. We haven't found the fourth gear yet. Hopefully we can find it fast."
West Virginia (12-5) is an opponent Penders pegged as "an offensive juggernaut," and rightfully so. In 17 games, the Mountaineers have plated 184 runs; good for an average of almost 11 runs per game. Sophomore right-hander Jerryd Summers has been the ace of their pitching staff, posting a record of 3-0 in four starts with 31 strikeouts in 24.2 innings of work to go along with an ERA of 2.55.
"They're always ready to play," Penders said. "They know how to swing the bats well and we'll have our hands full with their hitters."
The Huskies' answers offensively come in the form of junior outfielder Matt Burnett and slugging sophomore shortstop Mike Olt.
Burnett was on a tear last season before a season-ending injury forced him to redshirt. He's batting .400 in 2009 and has extended a hitting streak that he began last year to 18 games.
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